409
Albums Rated
3.67
Average Rating
38%
Complete
680 albums remaining
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When do you listen?
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Blues
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
86
5-Star Albums
15
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Boots And Panties | 5 | 2.7 | +2.3 |
| Cut | 5 | 2.71 | +2.29 |
| Nixon | 5 | 2.76 | +2.24 |
| Stripped | 5 | 2.87 | +2.13 |
| Music Has The Right To Children | 5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
| Mama Said Knock You Out | 5 | 2.91 | +2.09 |
| Lazer Guided Melodies | 5 | 2.92 | +2.08 |
| Signing Off | 5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
| Sail Away | 5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
| Fire Of Love | 5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| ...And Justice For All | 1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
| Smash | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| The Downward Spiral | 1 | 3.35 | -2.35 |
| Vivid | 1 | 3.19 | -2.19 |
| Close To You | 1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
| Bandwagonesque | 1 | 3.05 | -2.05 |
| Superfuzz Bigmuff | 1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
| Sweetheart Of The Rodeo | 1 | 2.82 | -1.82 |
| I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail | 1 | 2.81 | -1.81 |
| Dookie | 2 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 5 |
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 2 | 5 |
| Amy Winehouse | 2 | 5 |
| Fela Kuti | 2 | 5 |
| Radiohead | 4 | 4.25 |
| David Bowie | 4 | 4.25 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Mudhoney | 2 | 1.5 |
| The Byrds | 3 | 2 |
5-Star Albums (86)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Adele
3/5
21. 2+1 = 3.
That'll do. Don't want to expand on that or I'll be torn to shreds.
33 likes
Amy Winehouse
5/5
The first (only?) artist on @1001_albums_gen i'd met and being a Camdenite of course know Frank inside out.
And what an incredible voice Amy had. I know there is idolisation of stars that die too early - but not here, what a huge, massive loss.
17 likes
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
I listened to this 8 times yesterday, and will do so again today. This is like the jazz album you wanted to discover to help you get a better understanding. Backstory is amazing, it's just incredible brass free jazz.
14 likes
Fela Kuti
5/5
Listened through 4 times. Morning, noon or night it's great. Just utterly outstanding danceable music. No, it's not like any Ginger Baker I've heard before, but yes it's as good as every Fela Kuti album I've heard.
11 likes
Rush
2/5
*Makes myself unpopular*
With prog rock I just have this overwhelming sense the musos are trying to be clever, and the fans have a smug belief in their own cleverness, and yet I just don't enjoy it, not even 'Tom Sawyer'.
Insert new synthesiser sound here.
11 likes
1-Star Albums (15)
All Ratings
Beatles
4/5
Classic early Beatles, full of short snappy Top 10 poppy hits. Enjoyed the tunes I wasn't familiar with - would listen again, wouldn't download.
As ever with them, so many tunes you know without knowing the titles.
Supergrass
3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Wow - really good album, in fact the first Bob Dylan album where the majority of tracks havn't given me a migraine. Lovely bluesy tunes. Would recommend
Yes
2/5
I'm sorry Prog Rockers - not my thing. Yeh, it's well crafted, but no.
The The
4/5
Great album - only knew a couple of the tracks - will definitely listen to again. Good for a hot Saturday morning listen
Beatles
5/5
Obviously ground breaking, a classic. Incredible etc.. probably will never listen through again so I don't have to put up with tracks like Revolution 9
Jorge Ben Jor
5/5
This is great! But it had to be with a title like that..
First album i've downloaded so far.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Thoroughly 'interesting' background music. Couldn't pick out a single track. Perhaps would improve with a second listen
Radiohead
4/5
Stunning, but we knew that already didn't we.
I've obviously listened through the album in it's entirity a few times, but loved doing it again
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Really hard to put into words for me - raw, unfiltered, angry yet polished with clarity. I think this album just feels 'significant' - can't believe it's nearly 30 years old.
Pink Floyd
3/5
I need to listen to this again.
With drugs.
Lots and lots of drugs.
Sebadoh
2/5
So the first couple of tracks i'm like "wow this is the kind of lo-fi grunge I could have gone for when I was 14" but then it rapidly descends like they've run out of idea, money and hope with 'Fantastic Disaster' an absolute disaster.
The Everly Brothers
4/5
Utter bubblegum. Finely tuned pop songs of the era. A sub 30 minute album like the good old days! Sprinkling of classics (Cathy's Clown, Love Hurts).
Will never play again.
Turbonegro
3/5
Not as bad as first anticipated - in fact - a lot of it is really quite good. Enjoyed reading up on the band, enjoyed the album - the epitome of "not my cup of tea" so a welcome diversion from my normal tunes.
David Bowie
4/5
Absolutely a classic album - who wouldn't want to listen to full Bowie album (answer - me - i'm not sure i've actually listened to anything that wasn't a greatest hits). Minimal 'hits' - i.e. Sound and Vision. It was challenging and fascinating. Look forward to the next Bowie album (must be a few more in the list!)
Boards of Canada
5/5
Who? What? How havn't I heard this before?
Feels like the father of electronic, trip hop, electronic music rolled into one. Just awesome, like a downbeat, low key, non showoffy Mr Scruff.
Buck Owens
1/5
Oh no, oh no. Just no*
*Selected tracks coming to a Quentin Tarantino film soon
Let's not talk about this again, thankfully a mere 32 minutes of my life I won't get back.
Iggy Pop
4/5
It's obviously got 2 absolute classics on (Passengers & Lust for Life) but loved hearing tracks i'm not so familiar with (Fall in love with me is a great track).
What a star - what a unique voice
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Really enjoyed this - it was great to hear what an amazing voice she had and hear it on tracks I hadn't heard before - album would have been a revelation back then, so much so my least favourite track was Nothing Compares 2 You (as heard so often)
William Orbit
3/5
Cannot lie - really got into it - great instrumentalist, but by the end was desperate for it to finish
Blondie
4/5
Oh I know some Blondie. Oh, I know lots of Blondie. Oh, actually they are REALLY good. What an album.
Would give 4.5. Listened through twice, will listen again many times. This is what albums are for. Could also be a Best Of album!
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
OK, from 10 seconds in you're thinking 'this is a concept album'. Really needs heavy focus and listening. There is a lot going on, and need to revisit and reassess. Not sure if i'm been harsh or overly generous.
Iron Maiden
2/5
OK, it wasn't the noise overload I expected, no paracetemol needed, and I recognise the talent, but my brains just not wired to enjoy this, sorry.
Iron Maiden
2/5
Oh god not another one.
I recognise singles this time. But 2 Iron Maiden albums on the trot man, hard life
Peter Tosh
4/5
An utter joy after 2 Iron Maiden albums. I knew this was his first post-Wailers album - and the important political message behind it (not just about cannabis). Not perfect, but essential listening.
Mudhoney
2/5
Oh, grunge.
I knew the band name - knew the era, but not the style or the quality. Now I do.
Kelela
4/5
A 2017 album supposedly in top 1001 ever made & i've never heard of it? Oh no, not more dull R&B.
So I thought at first. But I listened & listened again. Big electronic/cross genre. It's really very good & well produced.
Teenage Fanclub
1/5
I'm certainly not jumping on this bandwagonesque
Dexys Midnight Runners
4/5
So everyone knows 1 Dexy's song (I know 3!) - and this features Geno one of the greatest get up and dance songs ever. So happy to listen to an entire album, might feel 'samey', but an absolute joy.
Sepultura
1/5
I'm so sorry, it's impossible to get any enjoyment out of this. Don't take this personally Brazilian Death Metal Heads.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Couldn't face Sepultra for my early dog walk so jumped to next album - Frank! I know loads of Sinatra, but an entire album? Nope. This felt like a Xmas album. It was lovely-like being stroked by a hot chocolate with Baileys.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Unmistakably Costello, lovely album (I do like his voice though!) - some great tracks on without any massive hits. Surprised that Shabby Doll is the least listened to track on the album (according to Spotify).
Billy Bragg
4/5
Love this - know some of Billie Bragg's music but not Wilco's - so found this a great collaboration - more country/bluesy than anticipated (i.e. Hoodoo Voodoo) - on my 3rd listen now!
Elton John
4/5
I'm refusing to mark this down because of Candle in the Wind despite every desire to do so (a particular bugbear since Di Died on my 21st birthday). Can we accept that this is a great album?
4/5
Beatles
5/5
Well, having never owned a Beatles album, surprised myself by giving this 5/5 - but it's got Come Together (could be 1 year old never mind 50), Golden Slumbers and loads of great tracks i'm not familiar with like Maxwell's Golden Hammer. Plus I live near Abbey Road so
Black Sabbath
4/5
OK, I was expecting the worst, but actually I liked this. A lot. More Led Zeppelin / Blues Rock than I was expecting, catchy tunes - and out less than a year Abbey Road which i'd just finished - amazing comparison of the era. Solid.
Venom
1/5
To use their own song titles to cover this:
To Hell and Back (except I didn't come back), (I'd rather be) Buried Alive, Leave Me in Hell (or at least somewhere this isn't playing), (This is a) Nightmare.
Richard Hawley
4/5
Never heard him before, but was at a concert Richard Hawley headlined this summer - missed him against my wishes, so chuffed to see this pop up. A lovely, rockabilly, non-ironic album. It's great this.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
We're all Springsteen fans right? We all know his hits. We all know how amazing he is. But have we ever listened to one of his albums? I hadn't. But chose a cold, windy dog walk to listen, and it hit all the right spots. Amazeballs.
TV On The Radio
3/5
Another band I was unfamiliar with - surprised me considering the genre - real vibes of everyone from Black Keys to Kaleo to Leon Bridges - but all a bit meh, but interesting enough i'll search out their other music.
Eels
4/5
I don't know why I didn't listen much to this - I think it's because I didn't like Eels fans much. But some truly ironic mid-90's tracks like Novacaine For The Soul. Angst ridden, iconic, etc etc... Enjoyed!
Parliament
5/5
Is this one of the funkiest albums ever made?
Is 7-Up?
Paul McCartney and Wings
3/5
Apparently this is the most highly rates album by the Beatles in solo form - probably as many of the tracks are 'Beatles' tracks. And a couple of great tracks on there. The back story to the making of the album in Nigeria is fascinating though - worth a google!
The Adverts
4/5
I've spent ages relistening to this to get a handle on it - it's an access drug to punk with a fascinating back story - read up on them. Album named by Jane Suck who's disappeared, band lasted only 3 years - but delivered so much
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
Of course I recognise the genius of For What It's Worth but I knew little else from BS. And what a revelation this was didn't expect such a wide variation of styles whilst still epitomising mid-60's music.
Everything But The Girl
4/5
I've never gone beyond Miss You (my regret) so was overjoyed to see this come up. And I loved Tracey Thorn's (unexpected) vocals & the songwriting of fellow #BarnetFC fan Ben Watt. I wish i'd listened to it 25 years ago, will revisit many times
Deep Purple
4/5
The album that spawned 'Smoke on the Water' - written after the casino the the album was to be recorded in burnt down during a Frank Zappa concert!
Great British rock - tinged with no many genres. Fab.
Morrissey
3/5
I'd never been part of the Morrissey bandwagon, but of course his music is inescapable and his voice so unique. A good, but forgetable album that you listen to without any stand out tracks. Pleasant.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
How do you follow up 'Born to Run'? Well, like this. Wasn't the same commercial success, but you feel he wanted something rawer (apparently 70 songs recorded reduce to 10). Liquid late 70's post-industrial American.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4/5
I knew this album as my dad was a fan - and love the opening track 'Visions of You' - it's amazing and you think you are on the verge of greatness, but sadly doesn't rise to such peaks again, still a great album
Herbie Hancock
5/5
5/5
Disagree and i'll fight you.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
CCR are incredible. This started like a Greatest Hits album, but dropped marks for 2 awful instrumentals at the end. Then realised they aren't on the original album which climaxes with 'Night Time is the Right Time' (only on the Spotify album I linked to).
They are pop/swamp/rock geniuses
Dr. Dre
4/5
Now, i'm not the worst middle aged white guy to review Mr Dre's '92 groundbreaking, raw and significant album, but this was awesome, and bonus point for heavy sampling of P-Funk. I ain't going to be singing along aloud though.
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Tough to categorise - Talking Heads meets techno? Even alternative U2, elements of Travis, mainstream yet.. not.
Yet I really like it - definitely will explore more, yet I know I know them, just can't put my finger on it...
The Police
4/5
There's probably a reason why the best The Police album is one of their Best Of - as they produce some stunning pop tunes, and some dirge as this album shows. 2nd half of this album 5/5, 1st half 3/5
Tears For Fears
4/5
Like so many albums of this era, it's got some bangers (❤️Head over Heals), tracks that made 31 on #TOTP and some absolute fillers. But definitely very polished and great singalong material.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
I have an unconscious bias against the Pet Shop Boys - every track sounds the same. Not dull or bad, but i've listened through this album twice now and didn't even notice it was on. Couldn't differentiate between this and any other Pet Shop Boys album.
Incubus
2/5
I remember when I was about 8 buying an album by Extreme on the basis of catchy 'More than words' to realise they were actually a big shouty band. Which is also Incubus. Some quieter melodic numbers surrounded by noise.
Public Enemy
5/5
Do believe the hype
Korn
1/5
No.
1/5
The Strokes
3/5
The American Stereophonics.
Some great tracks (I mean, Last Nite) and some fillers.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
Yep, Freak Out! is absolutely appropriate for a title. Absolutely experimental rock, but with so many feels of so many 60's bands you'd know and love. I'm sure you could listen 100 times and take something different from this.
2Pac
4/5
I'd left this for when I could listen through & read up on 2Pac's life. You can sense the real introspection in this - talent shines through in every track.
But now i've done that, i'll probably never listen again, so that says everything.
Joy Division
3/5
I suppose this is the line where this becomes a personal project. I just find Joy Division so bland and samey... I love unique sound and recognise the talent, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to it (again).
Fiona Apple
3/5
Who? What?
Wiki says it's "Rooted in experimentation, the album largely features unconventional percussion."
Yeh, hard to put a finger on, interesting and different and not unenjoyable.
Aerosmith
4/5
So this is how they rocked before I was born eh? Well, went into this with all kind of biases (blame Love in an Elevator for that) but this is a great album, full of actual rock music rather than screaming anthems. Top stuff.
Adam & The Ants
4/5
Unexpectedly gleeful! Always took Adam Ant to be a punk-Shakey Stevens, bit of a joke band. But he's not - this is some seriously good pop-punk. Not surprised was the Brit Award Best Album.
The Gun Club
5/5
So this starts off polished punk. Then bluesy. Then - wow - Led Zeppelin, a bit 'Doors'y - and i'm taking this in wide eyed. This is amazing. This is why I'm doing this - to be introduced to great music I'm not familiar with.
As someone else said "the magnitude of discovering The Gun Club cannot be understated" and it could well be my words. Thank you!
The Monks
3/5
No? Me neither.
Turns out they were a 60's American band living in Germany for the freedom of escaping the restrictions of finely tuned pop. And they succeeded. Albeit at the cost of producing anything you can listen to more than once.
Van Morrison
4/5
Ah, here was Van the Man at the top of his game. Such finely skilled songs such as And It Stoned Me & Moondance, such a unique voice, such a talent. But even then, back in 1970, as a man, I bet he was still a bit of a tit.
Caetano Veloso
2/5
This feels like the follow up to Murph and the Musicians playing the Holiday Inn in the Blues Brothers.
Just didn't hook me with anything...
Daft Punk
2/5
Do I know how important this album was at the time? Yes. A couple of the tracks absolutely banged.
Has the album aged well? Oh hell no.
It's like being nostalgic for a Nokia 3410, great memories, but you don't want to own one now.
10cc
2/5
Well, I love Dreadlock Holiday & I'm not in Love (who doesn't) - but know nothing else.
And to be honest I expected more. Feels very bland musically & lyrically. 1001 Greatest Albums? Really? How?
The Cars
4/5
Ah this has some great pop songs on - always loved 'Best Friends Girls' and some of the other tracks.
Not consistent enough across all songs to be brilliant, but really enjoyed the album.
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
Had a few listens now as it's very much an 'album' rather than collection of a few standout tracks.
Did enjoy - constantly revising who they remind me (Ooh just like - Verve, ooh U2, ooh Muse etc).
Looking forward to hearing more of them
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
This is the album i've spent longest considering. What is it? Punk meets Richard Branson. Angry, noisy and a hard hard listen.
You know it's an important album, and yet you need your ears to have a break.
The Youngbloods
3/5
But of a weird one this - not a commercial or critical success either in 1969 or subsequently so not sure who would authorise it's admittance! No big hits a la Buffalo Springfield or Little Feat. Very basic Byrds, bang average.
Soft Cell
3/5
The album that gave us (the cover of) Tainted Love - a sound of 1981 wrapped in tense, edgy synth tunes.
All blatently on a budget - enjoy the video for 'Sex Dwarf' - whilst enjoying the lyrics!
Fun, but that was my last listen
Derek & The Dominos
5/5
Ah look, this is an absolute classic album for so many reasons. Can I deduct a star because Eric Clapton? Nah. Are there better tracks than Layla on this? Yup.
Travis
4/5
So this album sits in a box with so many other Uni bought CD's, memories of 4am plays, and melancholic regrets about girlfriends I never had. Musically, hasn't aged that badly, it's full of lovely, well written catchy tunes.
Nico
3/5
I could read around this and the music of the era for days. But just listening to this purely for the music it's clear, crisp, and interesting: in small doses. The entire album in one sitting is tough - borderline dull.
The Slits
5/5
Short, sweet and perfect British punk.
Sam Cooke
5/5
One of the great live albums of all time - and yet they sat on it for 20 years before releasing it?!? Madness.
What a voice, what a man, what an album. I'd have given everything to be in the audience. Bliss.
Badly Drawn Boy
3/5
Gentle plinky plonk British 90's pretentiousness.
Perfectly lovely way to pass an hour. Had to pass another hour as each tune had completely passed me by. Will I listen again? Pass.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
Quite an ahead-of-it's-time grungy album. Less poppy, fewer hits, quite pleasant.
Beastie Boys
3/5
Shouty shouty music. Yeh I get the anger and melody and appreciate it, but won't appreciate again.
Would have been right at the right time and place (20 years ago)
The Jam
5/5
#79 - The Jam - All Mod Cons
Apparently this album catapulted Paul Weller into the consciousness of the UK. Despite not having any major hits it's got bite, anger, class issues and is a great listen. This is how I imagine London in 1978 (sorry Woking).
The Byrds
3/5
Look I find the Byrds a particular level of melodic blandness where everything sounds the same. Always on 60's compilations, most interesting thing on this album is the appearance of Hugh Masekela
Is this really a 1001 'best' album?
Dirty Projectors
3/5
This is pleasant plinky plonk pop but utterly devoid of anything that stands out. I know they are an American band, but it's like listening to bottled Shoreditch at times. Temecula Sunrise is basically 20 songs they didn't know what to do with.
The Offspring
1/5
Oh no do I have to
4/5
Mistakenly listened to 2 hr version with outtakes. Relistened. Yeh, this is definitely Blur, just without any jaunty hits. I was never big into them - but interesting to hear the 'pre going massive' album. Decent.
The Smiths
3/5
How do I review this without offending all the cool cats? I found The Smiths whiny when surrounded by their music in Manchester as a kid. Now i've had a break, I can appreciate it more.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Pet Shop Boys is electro-synth-pop music for unhappy people right? The ones with forced smiles at their own weddings.
And this is genuinely unoffensive catchy unhappy music.
Where's the joy?
ABBA
3/5
OK, i'm biased. I hate ABBA. There, I said it.
And I went into it negatively. But - this is their 'grown up no massive hits break up album'. And do you know what?
It's actually OK.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
I listened to this 8 times yesterday, and will do so again today. This is like the jazz album you wanted to discover to help you get a better understanding. Backstory is amazing, it's just incredible brass free jazz.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I had a depressed housemate that loved Nick Cave, I always found his voice drab & harsh. But it's good to revisit - he's a songwriter and a half. 'Into My Arms' is amazing. An entire album of his voice is challenging though.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
So of all the albums/genres i'm discovering and loving for the first time, i've realised most are punk-rock. Raw, dance-indie - this is now downloaded as an instant pick me up on the bleakest of days.
5/5
It took me (and the music press) a while to truly appreciate what an album this was. I've never owned it, but i've sung along to every song, danced (drunkedly) to many. For my generation, it's so important - even critical.
John Grant
4/5
Good album for the background enabling you to focus on your work without having to be drawn into melodies or your head turned by music. Feels quite satisying - like you know this album is making someone somewhere happy.
Brian Eno
3/5
Experimental glam rock, yet detailed and polished, and it hit the heady heights of 26 in the album charts at some point in 1973, and that's what it is, a minor hit for a minority. Why would I listen to this again?
Guns N' Roses
5/5
I never knew this sold poorly in the US - and took off here - hell, I had the cassette. To quote Kerrang "rock is at last being wrestled from the hands of the bland, the weak, the jaded, the tired, the worn".
Yeh, rock on 🤘
The Rolling Stones
4/5
It's so good to deep dive into the tracks that you don't know. This is the 'dive into commerciality' album - more pop-rock than blues-rock, but it's awesome.
Loses 1 star for 'Paint it Black' being on the US release - NOT this UK one. Tune
Bauhaus
2/5
So i'd listened to this when it came up a couple of months ago and forgot to rank it. That's because it's quite forgettable. So i've re-listened to it.
It's how i'd imagine a soundtrack to East Germany (done by a 1981 English band).
Amy Winehouse
5/5
The first (only?) artist on @1001_albums_gen i'd met and being a Camdenite of course know Frank inside out.
And what an incredible voice Amy had. I know there is idolisation of stars that die too early - but not here, what a huge, massive loss.
Various Artists
3/5
Definitely my favourite xmas album produced by a convicted murderer.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Ah man, i've got to make notes as I listen rather than a week later, so I've re-listened. This is industrial, alternative hip hop, with some great samples. Very well produced, with interesting themes.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
So this is where it started then? Fabulous, unique.
However, I still have a preference for the bluesy slide of tracks like 'I can't quit you baby' - but judging by the Spotify Plays - i'm in a minority!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Ah man, always happy to see Bob's name pop up, I know i'll love the music, and listen to the album on repeat as I discover so many great album tracks. Loses 1 point as I realised how much greater the live track of No Woman No Cry is. Still genius.
Frank Zappa
2/5
Willie the Pimp is the only track i've got time for on this, oddly the only track with vocals, or Captain Beafheart. Don't come for me the Zappa-army.
Cypress Hill
4/5
Ah, the eponymous debut album. Why do artists do it?
But, that aside, this is something else - a "sonic blueprint" apparently - I get that. Musically tight, historically important. And thankfully, no 'Insane in the membrane'. It's very good. For 1991.
Jane's Addiction
2/5
Was happy to see this pop up - as I know the name so well, but not the music. But, it was just well produced bland rock. Nothing stood out - apart from overuse of 'Jane' and swearing. Unremarkable.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
Melancholy personified.
Shuggie Otis
5/5
Wow - this is the era and style I love - but why don't I know Shuggie Otis - it's hardly a forgettable name. But then pop on Strawberry Letter 23 and it's 'ohhhhh'.
Lovely, warm, cuddly.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Ah, the comedy/bro-hip hop genre hits my inbox, and I don't mind it to be honest (love a bit of Pharcyde). It was different for the time & catchy, but let's not forget the band wanted the album to be called "Don't Be a Faggot"
Rush
2/5
*Makes myself unpopular*
With prog rock I just have this overwhelming sense the musos are trying to be clever, and the fans have a smug belief in their own cleverness, and yet I just don't enjoy it, not even 'Tom Sawyer'.
Insert new synthesiser sound here.
Circle Jerks
4/5
Just what I needed on a bright Sunday morning - 14 hard core punk tracks totalling 15 minutes, so quite bearable, like 1 shot of tequila to perk you up. It's like they couldn't be arsed to extend 14 hooks into 4 minutes songs, so listenable!
4/5
Alice In Chains
3/5
Not unbearable heavy rock.
Will never listen to again.
Scott Walker
3/5
I have so many questions. I assume there was Scott 1, 2 & 3 albums - or was Scott 1 just Scott or did he assume success & follow up albums? And why does every song sound like it was made for a Spaghetti Western? And who would think "this is one of the greatest albums of all time" under any circumstance, even if they like it?
Which, oddly I do. When the sun is out, and no-one is around I could quite imagine myself blasting this out and singing along to it with a large whisk(e)y.
3.5/5
Mercury Rev
3/5
It's the air of depression made with a mellotron, flugelhorns, female whistling, tettix wave accumulator, chamberlin strings, yeh you get my point.
A formulaic attempt to get 5/5 from NME.
Van Halen
2/5
Yep - we all love a bit of Jump - it's iconic
But the rest of this now... just feels tired
Like it was made in 1984 I suppose...
Television
4/5
Another band that had passed me by; another post-punk/rock band - that at times absolutely blew me away (loved the title track) - has a real 1970's authentic hiss & rawness. Not great - certainly not all the way through but a great discovery
System Of A Down
3/5
Finally but the bullet after 10 days (couldn't face Armenian-American thrash metal). But you know what?
Took it out for a walk with dampened earphones.
It's not bad - some musical talent, and small familiar snippets (clips felt like XTC or Split Enz!). Unusual, not unbareable. No headache recorded.
UB40
5/5
One of the best things about @1001_albums_gen is reading the backstory of the albums - because this is a fabulous, non-covers debut album i'd never heard. They locked themselves away for a year learning instruments to play - and it's fab!
Jethro Tull
3/5
OK, i've had this on the backburner for days now, listening & relistening. I still don't know whether I like, whether it is good or great, or polished or raw. I just don't know.
Honestly cannot rate fairly. Real conundrum. Is that the point?
Frank Ocean
3/5
It's got a Start, and an End. Perfect album material. Musically it's pleasant, but a little bland r'n'b isn't going to get me too excited
Green Day
2/5
Look it's lots of gooky american rockers targetting students by shouting and occasionally adding melodic riffs and shouting some more and look at this album cover!
4/5
I just don't know if I knew far less about music than I thought, or this 'challenge' goes out of it's way to pick more obscure bands.
But these guys shouldn't be - early 80's raw punk tinged rock - so why aren't 'X' as big as they should be?
Machito
5/5
Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz. Oof. Style, panache, and now added to my collection.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
This was the first jazz album to sell a million copies you know, and Take Five even made the singles pop charts..
It's great. In the background. But just lacks a little, you know, something. Important, but not significant.
Ride
2/5
So it turned out I'm the only person of my age who didn't know what the 'Shoegaze' genre of music was (Creation Records Bread & Butter).
Well this is it. A tedious blending of instruments and music, so all tracks sound identikit & mortifyingly dull.
The Doors
5/5
Aww man. What a band. What an album. And the best of them. Jim Morrison's last. Stripped back rock blues, with just an amazing set of songs. I just listen to Riders on the Storm and visualise great things. This album transports me away somewhere special
The Byrds
2/5
So they knew - they released the album knowing their only covered song would be their huge hit. Not one of the folk-pop tracks they wrote themselves that fills the rest of the album that blurs into 1. They knew.
Dull
Eurythmics
4/5
Relevant as used to see Dave Stewart a lot in Harringay Arms in Crouch End neighbours want to shut due to noise (the NIMBY morons). It's a great breakthrough album, little filler and Annie Lennox's voice is iconic
Metallica
1/5
I knew exactly what this was going to sound like, and I wasn't disappointed. Well, actually I was very disappointed because I just find Metallica disappointing.
A disappointing 1/5
Tina Turner
3/5
Ah, what a voice, what power & what energy. I love so much of her early music. But this huge album surprised me with how much of it felt tired and aged. It's more a reflection on power ballads than Tina though.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
I've left this review for a while ago I have to keep listening to it again.
Ah, memories abound.
fIREHOSE
2/5
Was hopeful with this - backstory read like a 'alt-folk-rock band' i'd like.
But it's just so utterly forgettable.
I should have guessed when that much effort goes into the band name.
Elastica
4/5
Ah Justine Frischmann, how you were everyone's secret crush. And how Elastica kind of sprung out of an era with a different sound and it still doesn't sound aged, which is lovely. It was never great music, but who doesn't love Connection?
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Absolutely chirpin'. 26 minutes of unbridled 50's American joy. Imagine knocking off That'll be the day and Oh boy in your debut album, sensational stuff.
Moby
5/5
I'd spent years studying Alan Lomax so to hear his recordings sampled by Moby and become a humongous album cheered me enormously - bringing so much good music to the electronica pretentiously inclined. And it was an amazing album in too many ways to list.
Paul Weller
5/5
Look, I loved Weller well before the masses searched him out due to Oasis + Stanley Rd radio airplay. This has one of my favourite tracks on - and is just glorious to listen to from start to finish. Not a masterpiece, but in many ways perfect
The Sonics
5/5
At first listen i'm like 'what's this, loads of 60's white boys covering tracks' but oh my - the energy that goes into this. Forerunner of punk / grunge, used in a many a tv advert - very little original material - but The Witch is just disconcerting.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Their debut album that gave us Free Bird and a load of great rock tracks. They sound like they are having a lot of fun. Didn't realise half the band wiped out in a plane crash en-route to play at my alma mater LSU
Ah, Rod. This would be pub-faire blues rock without his standout rawkish voice. Album was never a success but it did give us "Stay with me" which in immense.
An enjoyable 35 minutes.
David Bowie
3/5
Bowie moving away from glam rock towards a more soul/r 'n' b sound and giving us Fame & Young Americans.
It's not perfect, hell, as an album it's not even that great. But I get it's inclusion.
Kid Rock
1/5
US College White Bro-Rock
Let's just call it 'Brock' as it's mainly listened to by Frat Bros called Brock. It was called 'trailer trash triumph'.
The only question I have is - why would you do this to me?
Beatles
4/5
So this was their 2nd album eh?
What can you say about the Beatles ever that hasn't been said already? Nothing, so we'll leave it there shall we?
Small Faces
4/5
Funky title, funky band. A bit special really.
Bet deep down Blur would have swapped everything they ever did to have released something this original.
Jane Weaver
3/5
It's like pleasant and everything, but I've run it in the background 3 times without really paying attention and it's not made me focus at any point. Not really a top 1001 album ever is it?
The Flaming Lips
4/5
Another band I knew by name only. But on a long, blustery train journey, this just hit all the right notes. A proper mood album. Lovely. Will be saving the album.
4/5
NME called it ""a magnificent, life-affirming opus". I prefer "a fun jaunt".
Faith No More
3/5
Oh it's a rock band. Not what I was expecting at all. Some decent funky bass and probably decent commercial sales.
Next.
The Specials
4/5
Really enjoyed having the Specials come up (again) - such unique sound, commentary of the era and taking in their unique musical talent. Very specials.
The Stranglers
4/5
Ah, this is what The Stranglers were about. Good honest semi punk rock.
And bonus point for no 'Golden Brown', the worst single ever released?
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
Ah, melodies, oh, another melody, aah, Marakesh Express, oh, more melodies, I wonder if? Ah yes, a melody.
Is it heretical to say the world would have lost nothing if this has been released as an EP?
Nina Simone
5/5
Ooh 'Nina Simone' on seeing this come up became very 'oh wow' when you stop and take on tunes like 'Four Women'. She's truly unique, and truly special.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
Feels very much like a modern day Lauryn Hill insofar as it's concept. Really good, but not perfect. And as I discovered, NSFW.
Foo Fighters
4/5
The backstory to this album is amazing - every track every instrument is Dave Grohl, and he tried to keep that secret which is peak Dave Grohl. Bonus star for being 100% Dave Grohl, loses a star as I'm afraid I'm not a grunge fan. Sorry Dave.
ABBA
3/5
Was dreading an hour of Abba, but plonked it on when working and to be honest it was just like listening Radio 2
In short, whatever is the opposite to lifechanging.
Carole King
5/5
I think i've never really listened to this as my mum was a huge fan. But WOW. What a song writer. So much we know and love - she wrote (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman? Really? Just incredible.
The War On Drugs
4/5
Ah look, I know this is good. I've played it through 5 times now.
It's just... Pretty indistinguishable. Every track. Just a decent 4/5 track. Over and over again. Consistent.
Bonnie Raitt
4/5
I do love Bonnie Raitt, just more of her real blues sound. Appreciate how she needed this commercially, just a little toned down for me and feels very 1980's
Neil Young
5/5
It's taken a while to get used to Neil's voice (I'm sorry Bob, I'll never get used to yours) and now I have there is no doubting the genius of this album, even if I had told find a new music streaming service to listen to it.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
Love the album cover for some reason... And hey, it's pretty good roots, blues, souly country AND western.
Generous 4/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
A Bob Dylan album that doesn't give me a migraine - amazing!
Yes he's an amazing songwriter, but boy, does his voice grate. But not this...fab!
The Temptations
5/5
Had to get a free trial with Apple Music to listen to this. And very glad I did. Fascinating, almost 'concept' album bordering soul and psychadelia. Definitely caused me to re-evaluate The Temptations, and for the better
Lambchop
5/5
Ok I've had this saved for a couple of weeks. I can't categorise it, but why should I? Get Richard Hawley vibes one day, Jarvis Cocker the next. Ok, it's not an platinum best seller classic, but I REALLY like this.
Elliott Smith
3/5
I can only relisten to an album so many times trying to work out if I like it. Sorry Elliott you've had multiple chances now.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Oh yeh. Having seen her at Wembley despite not thinking I knew any of her toons, can rightly said Taylor is a legend. Album.
Depeche Mode
4/5
This sounds more like Depeche Mode than Depeche Mode does.
Appreciated listening to an album so I could appreciate the musical talent, but it's a bit one dimensional
Sheryl Crow
4/5
Oh did I feel all 1990's dancing in the morning spring sun to this. Hadn't listened to the album for 20+ years so needed reminding Sheryl is far more than a one hit wonder. Some great tunes here.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Ah, Blister in the Sun. Tooon.
Gruff vocals. Anti establishment growling.
Rinse and repeat.
Traffic
4/5
Oh this is interesting stuff. Stevie Winwood does English folk with funk, blues, jazz, not blended all together but bit by bit. Freedom Fighter is a great track. I'm sure the album comes under 'let's pretend this influenced me' by modern pretentious musicians. Good listen though.
Cream
5/5
"Oh, your baby has gone down the plug hole
Oh, your baby has gone down the plug
The poor little thing was so skinny and thin
He should have been washed in a jug...
............. in a jug"
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Oddly the poorest track imo is You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, but the rest of the album is just indubitably excellent. Superstition. What a track. What an album. What a man
The Blue Nile
2/5
Scottish? Success in US but not here?
Once again, the American's surprise me.
5/5
Ah Ziggy. Imagine knowing the hits from the album but not knowing the joys of Moonahe Daydream screaming into your earlugs. Perfect justification for why albums are greater than greatest hits
Justice
4/5
Listened all the way through one sunny morning. Electronica that gets you and about if you're in that kind of a mood. Trouble is I havn't been since, so it gets resigned to history with a 'yeh, was alright'
Willie Nelson
4/5
10 covers. I can see why it was a commercial success. I'm happy for everyone that loves it. But it ain't quite me.
The The
4/5
Good backstory around the album being made. Solid 80's synth pop. Nothing overly memorable.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
What the fuck is this?
It's fucking brilliant that's what it is. Why have I never heard this. That's on me really.
Michael Jackson
3/5
My re-appraisal of Thriller:
Bang average album brought up by Beat It and Billie Jean. Thriller is just background noise to an expensive video, and The Girl is Mine is one of the worst songs ever made.
3/5
Can
5/5
So Krautrock. Damo Suzuki. All these things I know by name but not aurally.
It's definitely not prog rock, I mean it can't be as I enjoyed it, nay, was really taken aback. A real wowsers album.
Deerhunter
3/5
Meh.
John Coltrane
5/5
Spiritual.
If you're in the right frame of mind, hard to describe it as anything else.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
5/5
Thank God I've still got the free Apple Music trial.. What an album, what a supergroup. Our House, Helpless, so much stunning writing. And yes Neil Young's stays just on the right side of 'grating'.
Steely Dan
4/5
Steely Dan is so samey, can go through an album without blinking. But I love that one track that they play for 35 minutes, album after album after album (actually Rikki Don't Lose That Number irritates me, but the rest of the album I didn't know is fabulously crafted).
Spiritualized
4/5
Excellent. Makes me wish I was a stoner.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Imagine have the soul to sing 'Cry to Me' with the power and emotion of Solomon Burke. Almost makes me feel like an inferior human being.
Sadly his 'prodigious output' means it's a mixed bag of an album, he was probably already writing his next album 10 minutes after releasing this one.
Slipknot
1/5
All hope has gone. It's not a euphemism. I'm not sure who is more disappointed, those who want the mental start throughout or those that discover the more laid-back tunes later. Unpleasant either way tbh. Just give me some music.
Queen
5/5
Ok I'm not a huge Queen fan, but only because I've heard the hits to death. But this only Killer Queen, my fave on, and loads I havn't heard. And it's great, polished glam rock. Joyful.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Ah, I love a bit of Yardbirds but this just isn't a great album - feels - monotone
Stevie Wonder
5/5
How can this album not give you anything but wonderous joy?
Adele
3/5
21. 2+1 = 3.
That'll do. Don't want to expand on that or I'll be torn to shreds.
Love
4/5
Ah love Love but this album was tough Love.
Booker T. & The MG's
3/5
Ah. Good background soulful instrumentals. Oddly I'm tired of Green Onions by now. Feels harsh giving a 3 but it's a reminder I don't need to listen to the album again despite it being Booker T
Talking Heads
4/5
Such a great band, musical genius. Incredible album to sit and listen to what is going on with each track, harder if you are just taking in if it's background music
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Basically vaguely soulful covers
808 State
4/5
Hated acid house at the time, mainly because all the big kids dressed in weird ghastly coloured shell suits knocking off tabs whilst gurning and dancing crazy style in fields and warehouses. In retrospect, quite an album.
B.B. King
5/5
Legendary album by a legend.
Bit confused by some of the editing, but did this leave me blue? Hell no.
David Crosby
4/5
"a perfect aural aid to digestion when you're having guests over for dinner"
Said Rolling Stone. Yup, that.
Björk
3/5
Oh Bjork, how utterly lovely, cute, adorable, challenging, and sometime's utterly frustrating to listen to you are.
Mudhoney
1/5
Not gonna lie, grunge is one genre that will never grow in me, so let's just call it a day there ok?
N.W.A.
5/5
Angry, authentic and exciting. Don't just sing in public Brit chaps.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Ah, CCR. Such unmottled genius
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Just droning. Maybe I'm not on enough drugs.
Buzzcocks
3/5
So this is where they started? Nothing I recognise, nothing I especially like or dislike. Can see it for it's relevance. Will never listen to again.
Radiohead
5/5
Do you have to British and of a certain age for this to really make sense? It's full of angst and relevance. Come on now kids of the 90's..."don't leave me high"
Rahul Dev Burman
4/5
Absolute joy. How does it rate in the grand scheme of things? No idea. But loved it!
LL Cool J
5/5
Yeh, something else. 32 years old my arse. Still so fresh.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It's a story. It's a well crafted story of education, hope and despair. And it needs to be listened to as an album rather than one track on a playlist. Hell, the whole album should be passed off as one track
TLC
3/5
Ok Waterfalls is a seriously good track, but we knew that. Rest of the album is 'ok'
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Man, this is a huge album, not just because it's just under 2 hours of 4 minute rock and roll hits, but because it's kind of rock and roll distilled. Not a huge amount of Stones hits but an album of immeasurable quality.
The Fall
4/5
Angry, almost toxic album that screams '1979'. They finished it in a day, took me a little longer.
Primal Scream
4/5
Music for earphones.
Talking Heads
4/5
So much musical talent, it's just taken me a long time to get there.
Michael Jackson
5/5
This is the first album I've not listened to. Why? Well, I know it inside out, too right I had it as a little kiddo in late 80's UK. Goddamn, this was so important to the era back then, and I'm not re-appraising it now.
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
Well this was a lovely surprise. A few tracks I knew (not by name) and it feels surprisingly fresh. A lovely summer album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
Top 10 greatest albums of all time.
I attribute so much importance to this album on different levels. But from a purely musical point of view it's simply transcends pretty much everything out there. Essential? Yup.
Little Richard
5/5
Removed Tutti Frutti. Rest of album saved for good. How brilliant is this?
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I'm sorry mum, I'm sorry dad.
Did you 'just have to be there?'.
This is a turning point in music apparently. But it's not when you're listening to it 50+ years later and are not present at the time. I'm sure it's of 100% importance, but to someone younger it's just twangy Joni and her grating voice.
Sorry again.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I never knew he was English, there you go.
Still doesn't increase my rating though, albeit I'm being generous as he's a great songwriter, and occasionally his voice carries it off, but too much averageness.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I've listened to this all the way through several times as can't quite grasp it. It was quite a new sound, I get that. But Synth pop ain't me, and I get why they were eternal Top of the Pops fillers.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
What else can I add? Yeh feels a little dated now. But yeh, if you know, you know.
Elton John
3/5
Couple of standout tracks, rest sounds like every other Elton John filler
Thelonious Monk
5/5
I mean, if you need a jazz album in reserve to play and look cool at that kind of dinner party, this is it.
The Pogues
5/5
This is really something else, joyful, unabashed, and gets you up and dancing. I hadn't considered the brilliance of The Pogues as well, like most people I'd overdosed on that bloody Christmas song. But this is a real brilliant musical education. Fab many times over.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
I've a grudging respect for Divine Comedy. Their overplayed cleverness, catchy lyrics, odd orchestral sounds. But I can't work out - who is now annoying - Neil Hannon or Divine Comedy fans?
Tito Puente
4/5
I don't know how to rate this as I've so little to compare it against but it's great.
1958? Even more great.
The Zombies
4/5
Released quietly, the Zombies split up before performing the album. Which is a shame as it is great. Really fresh sound, lovely album. Make sure you have on until the last track!
Fela Kuti
5/5
Thank you for giving me this. It's the album I need to play when I'm in a certain mood, but didn't know it existed, so I played some twaddle instead. Mint.
Madonna
3/5
It's a good album. My preferred Madonna era. But it's not actually great, it's formulaic.
The Kinks
4/5
Ok Sunny Afternoon is incredible. There's a lot of serious songwriting going on here. I can see why the album was a slow burner though, little else musically stands out
R.E.M.
4/5
So I've never explored REM's back catalogue, and what a joy it is. No massive hits, but a unique sound. Special shout out to Laughing and We Walk .
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
It must be quite hard to be a devoted Neil Young fan without opening a sizeable quantity of paracetamol. I feel like I'm honouring the memory of my parents by listening to it all the way through whilst pondering how good their drugs must have been. Whiny.
Eagles
3/5
I'm sorry Americans. This is not revenge for anything. But it's so self-indulgent American it basically deserves to be shot into space.
Thin Lizzy
5/5
The entire album is available on Apple Music. And fuck me, it's worth making the effort. I'm not a fan of heavy metal, but surely live music doesn't get much better. Forget the 2 different gigs / overdubs stuff, this is better than anything Thin Lizzy did in a studio.
The B-52's
4/5
Well this is fun! Bet nothing sounded like this in 1979.
The Teardrop Explodes
4/5
You need to ensure you are listening to a version that includes 'Reward' as you can then at least say you have heard this bags before.. and well worth the listen it is too. Yeh, I know of Julian Cope, but didn't know this is where he cut his teeth. File with Dexys as 'an enjoyable rewarding listen'.
The Mars Volta
3/5
I can't listen to this again (5 times so far) to try and work out what it is or whether I like it. This is why I'm not a music journalist, my views changed depending on my mood, and not normally for the better
Roxy Music
4/5
Cosmic Rock? Yeh. Would this be worse if you listen to the version without 'Virginia's Plain'? Also yeh. Did I enjoy this? Too bloody yeh.
Hookworms
3/5
Very hard to rate, it's ok, it plays as an album, but it's certainly not one of the best 1001. You'd rate as an interesting album rather than one you'd pop on for your friends (unless you live in Shoreditch).
Adele
3/5
Love Adele the person. Her music just does nothing for me. That's cool, she's chill about it.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
One of the greatest albums of all time? Possibly. This isn't even her greatest hits. Listen to a couple of songs you might not know that have staggering depths to the levels of soul then relish in Natural Woman (one of the most spine tingling tunes ever). Utterly 5* and I'd be happy if I never heard Chain of Fools again.
Arrested Development
5/5
This was the first real album I listened too and thought 'wow there's something here for me'. You see, a 13 year old from North London wanted to love gangsta rap, but, you know.... Mr Wendal sounded wise. Everyday People had my music in it. This was something else and it still sounds amazing
Muddy Waters
5/5
I know this album. I mean, I really know this album. Every single track. Because they are all amazing.
This is a great start to the morning thank you @1001_albums_gen I think I'll be walking to work to prolong my journey today 😍
Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Johnny Winter (with 'miscellaneous screams').
Pure pure joy
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Ah, the entire album rather than the song. Who's heard it all the way through and expected that? Proper soundtrack with a catchy title song.
Nick Drake
4/5
So, thank you for introducing me to this liquid melancholy. Apparently everyone knows him (except me) yet he only sold 4,000 albums in his lifetime. And he lived in a bedsit around the corner getting stoned and hiding his presence. Very grateful for the introduction...
Beck
4/5
Know Beck obviously, never listened to an album. This is great. Melancholic, polished, a proper album for when you need background music running through your head. Downloaded and saved.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I've an odd relationship with Todd Rundgren in that I've always got him mixed up with Dolph Lundgren and when I was a kid thought they were one and the same.
And tbh I'd probably want to listen to an album by Dolph.
Fleetwood Mac
2/5
I gather it was experimental and there were probably a lot of drugs involved, and there are a couple of great tracks on the album. But on the whole it's crap.
Guided By Voices
1/5
This is what they mean by lo-fi. Produced on a tenner. By a couple of blokes having a laugh.
Why is this here?
Deep Purple
3/5
I know I should listen to this again, but I just don't want to waste the time. It's Deep Purple. Live. In Japan if that makes a difference.
Exactly what it says on the tin. So if you're not a massive Deep Purple fan, don't expect any surprises.
Radiohead
5/5
Ah. This is fabulous. I'm not a Radiohead-junkie but bit part hit fan. So I knew nothing of Hail to the Thief, experimental electronics led album. But it's great. I know the band didn't love the album, but I love the sound. No hits, no filler (Radiohead disagree) a proper album.
Kate Bush
4/5
Ah this is so much more than 1 song. That song.
Sit back and listen to how sharp Kate Bush is, how well produced the musicianship is. What a cracking album.
Ray Price
4/5
Hell this is good fun honky tonk!
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
Couple of good tracks but why is this so bloody long
Funkadelic
5/5
Where do you even start with this? Well start by putting on the incredible title track, then sit back and read up on the album. Or if you don't know the legend of George Clinton & P-Funk start there and go down a rabbit hole.
This is an album where one member of the band took part in a 'acid speed eating contest' over 24 hours and never played again. Meanwhile, another band member was kicked out for drug use. If excessive drug use fair play, but I'm led to think it must have been for insufficient drug use
This is a band I once saw live who came on stage 7 hours late with G Clinton wearing nothing but a massive nappy
So enjoy the stories, sit back and continue listening to Maggot Brain. It's really very, very good isn't it ..
New York Dolls
4/5
I'm working through this slowly. On my third listen. I want to like this. They probably don't want me to like this. But the entire album tells an incredible story even if some of the music is a bit weird - the high standard of production seems to clash with the ethos of the band, and yet... It improves it. So many contradictions. A 4 today, it would have been a 5 yesterday. Don't know about tomorrow.
The Triffids
4/5
No, me neither? Not even in these listings of 'Best Australian Bands of all time' that run out at 8.
But yet this is lovely pleasing blues gentle rock, and I rather enjoyed it.
David Holmes
3/5
Yeh, just finished it and forgotten it already.
Hole
4/5
Ah, Hole, of Courtney Love fame, and for some of us, star of that late night TV show episode. But did I know her / their music? Hell no. Is it more polished, less raw than expected? Absolutely. Is that a good thing? Definitely. Some really polished tracks, have a listen, eradicate those stereotypes.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Don't worry Joni, I'll get you one day, if only for my parents. I'm trying...
Nick Drake
5/5
Oh Nick. The 2nd of your albums to appear in a couple of weeks ago I won't repeat myself, except I can but wish this poor tortured guy could read what's being said about him know. This is why I'm here. To hear the Nick Drake's of the world, to hear their music for the first time, and most importantly, to know their stories.
The Pharcyde
5/5
Ha ha ha YES! I never thought this would come up but too fucking right. So many memories, great great memories of late night card games in smoky rooms with cheap spirits.
But tell me this. How fat is she?!
Pixies
3/5
So I'd been invited to go see the Pixies in concert the morning this popped up and I thought 'oh it's a sign' - and it was! A sign not to waste the money.
I mean a couple of tunes but interspersed with some rubbish. This isn't why they are such a cult band surely?!
Suzanne Vega
3/5
It's pleasant.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Aww, is this my first Elvis? Looking forward to more. Sexy music. Yes, I'm walking around trying to sing Fever Elvis style. It's just great isn't it?
Nas
5/5
This is the epitome of 'on point' isn't it?
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
Aye, it's a novel and unique sound, but would I listen twice? Nah. Just reminds me of how bland some of the music of the era was
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Well this is something. I'm just enjoying the political undercurrents I never appreciated. 5 stars for touching on Lenny Bruce. Minus 1 star for trying to appropriate Scarborough Fair as your own song, a nursery rhyme we all learnt when we were 3 years old
The Killers
4/5
Ah, finally an entire Killers Album. My first! It's really quite good. Lots of fabulous tunes. All Those Things That I've Done, Glamourous Rock and Roll are fab, and then a bunch of stuff on endless repeat on mainstream radio stations. Genuinely good stuff.
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Great unique voice, but this just feels tired now. Which is ironic.
The Cure
2/5
Oh fucking hell, cheer up.
Arcade Fire
3/5
I feel I need to listen to this again a couple of times to get what ever anyone is going on about. But I'd rather give that time to a new band. So no, this didn't grab or grip me
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
This is about music right? Well this is music. Pretty much everything else can only dream of this energy and talent and musicianship.
Bee Gees
2/5
No squeaks, no disco, no thrills.
Suede
4/5
Ah Brett, you were so cool at school. The kids were all over this. Not me though, as I didn't like those cool kids. However I'm prepared to re-assess now and say there was something different and special about this album. I always secretly loved Animal Nitrate despite pretending otherwise.
John Cale
3/5
It's not a masterpiece, it's not thrilling, it's utterly pleasant. Especially "Child's Christmas in Wales". End.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
This isn't one of the greatest albums of all time as I keep reading. It's white noise.
Primal Scream
4/5
Ah, Loaded, what a way to start an evening. Damaged, amazingly tender. But let's just talk about Movin' on up -one of the just inspiring, semi-religious quality tunes ever written. You need a pick me up? There you go. And all done to the backdrop of drugs, the early 90's UK music scene and erm, more drugs.
Yeh well there's a lot of things here that don't work unless well, that lots of drugs thing is happening, but what a snapshot in time this album is. Oh and what a tune Movin' on up is. Says everything that these days it's on my running playlist. 90's me would be ashamed of me
R.E.M.
5/5
Ah, so I always merely tolerated REM. But even I can see what an incredible - if melancholic album this is. The sheer importance of songs like Everybody Hurts is staggering, the quality of the album incredible. It's quite something
3/5
Victoria is soooo catchy, this so sounds sooo 60's London, thus it gets a bit much
The La's
4/5
What's the opposite of prolific? The LA's.
One album and they despised it on release. A myriad of producers, broke up and reformed a number of times, and just this, one album.
Oh what could have been if they got their shit together. Sadly will be known for eternity as one hit wonders and it's their own fault. But what a hit.
Electric Light Orchestra
4/5
I've really rated their renaissance. ELO are not one hit wonders, and I bet this album sounded... Different?!?
Coldplay
4/5
Ah look, I'm not going to do that thing on hating on Chris Martin as it's cool. Coldplay are better than for, they borderline brilliance. The Scientist is an amazing track if you've had a few more drinks than you should and feeling solomn. But that's what Coldplay are, they produce an incredible album after album that captures moods and eras. They don't break musical barriers and don't pretend to. They aren't lucky, they aren't capturing a zeitgeist, they are just an incredible bunch of songwriters, and one incredible singer. Just massively stuck up his own backside. But do you know what? Respect and Kudus to them for it
Tracy Chapman
4/5
What a voice. What a unique talent, and no it hasn't aged. Love this. But, what happened to her next??
Drive Like Jehu
3/5
Look I'm not qualified to rate this. In fact I dreaded listening to it. But, piled high of caffeine, I went all in. And the first track delivered Here Come The Rome Plows is high octane (a cliche I know) and it didn't stop delivering. Last time I'll listen to it, but I respect those who get their energy from music like this.
Franz Ferdinand
2/5
Take Me Out is great. Scottish Mercury Award winners. But doesn't this sound.... Tired? 4/5 when I originally heard it. 2/5 now.
John Lennon
4/5
Ah John. Imagine what could have been.
Best first 3 songs of any album ever? It's a strong contender. Lose a star for Oh Yoko
The Fall
2/5
Rochdale's finest? I hope not. It's massively disappointing to me. The Lost in Music cover sounds like they are taking the piss out of everyone.
Aerosmith
4/5
Who wants to make love in an elevator? Quite a few people apparently. Fun furious mullet banging
Sonic Youth
3/5
By being a lil but before my time I just didn't quite get them. Diving into them now, I still don't. Not unpleasant but doesn't stand out. Guess you need to be there.
Nine Inch Nails
1/5
I went through this so you don't have to.
Don't repeat my mistake.
The Shamen
3/5
And mountains they did move. But an entire album of Shamen is of limited interest
Carpenters
1/5
Oh this horrific turgid tedium. They didn't even write the good songs. Poor Tim Hardin would be turning in his grave
Randy Newman
5/5
Oh I know this song. And this one. Oh he wrote this one too? Wowsers. I feel poorly educated for not knowing Randy Newman's catalogue. My bad. And having such a unique voice, what a talent. No need to keep your hat on Randy, go flaunt it.
Eagles
3/5
One big tune.
Two if you scratch beneath the camera.
Legends they aren't.
Country Joe & The Fish
4/5
Ok, this was the start of something. It was the beginning of something. An era. A generation.
And I get it.
Ray Charles
5/5
Ray Charles. He does what he wants. And it's always brilliant.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Well what can I add to everything that has ever been written about this? Nothing, except it's an amazing album to run to. Everything else everyone else says stands.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
So here we finally get to hear the album that every English kid's dad owned, I've just been waiting for this - and? It doesn't disappoint. I mean it has to be the best-selling piano recording in history for a reason right?
Take some time off and give this the attention it deserves. Read up on the making of the album and Jarrett while doing it.
Special.
Deee-Lite
4/5
So I assumed they were one hit wonders, but no, an actual album of decent commercial house. I was a little bit young for the entire album but look at the talent on this - Maceo, Bootsy & Fred! And this is so polished and easy to listen on. Still hard not to have a little jiggle to Groove In The Heart!
Gary Numan
3/5
So, this is an album of songs that sound like Cars, except the other songs aren't as good as Cars.b
Joy Division
3/5
It's not you; it's me.
As incredible as you might be - I just can't find any joy.
Duran Duran
4/5
Short sweet 80's, more filler than I'd for for a truly top album. I'll stick to the Best of.
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
This was always going to be a straight 5 for me. You see Jimi is a musical genius, on a different level to do many. Take this in in full, as it builds all the way through and then finally hits the last 2 tracks.
Does life get any better on a Saturday morning? Nah.
Queen
4/5
For those used to singles and greatest hits - here's an album for you. And for me! Did I recognise any of the tracks? Not really (all Queen tracks sounds vaguely familiar though so you're never sure). This album to me just served to remind me what a great ROCK band they were/are. Each track is so polished, so noisy, and so Queen.
Fela Kuti
5/5
Listened through 4 times. Morning, noon or night it's great. Just utterly outstanding danceable music. No, it's not like any Ginger Baker I've heard before, but yes it's as good as every Fela Kuti album I've heard.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Aye, I wanted more from this, to be caught up in the tunes but it didn't happen. EATB have a unique sound, but you need the tunes to go with it
The Damned
3/5
So British punk has been my big discovery, but I know the Damned. I just can't quite get into them as much, will need to try some of their other stuff.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
One of few hip hop bands I can pick out off the radio and get into. I can appreciate how important they are, so yeh, it's like that.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
I don't know Stevie Wonder had a so called 'golden period' I just thought he was a genius throughout his life. But Boogie on Reggae Woman is a real and endless genius of a song within a fabulous album
Motörhead
3/5
Does exactly what it says on the can.
Eminem
3/5
This is tough. You get the clarity, talent and absolute rawness mixed in with the lyrics of a 16 year old spotty incel locked in his bedroom. Or do you? Is the character? Is that the point? Reality is I don't care, you suss it out, I'll hum along to Stan and then move on with life
Kendrick Lamar
3/5
I kind of missed the Kendrick Lamar glory days, wasn't really a golden era of hip hop for me. But yeh I can hear the polished graft but it's not for me.
Patti Smith
4/5
Enjoyed. Have forgotten already.
Kraftwerk
3/5
Musical equivalent of motorways and architecture books.
Common
4/5
Yeh, this I can get into. Old school hip hop blended into soul, funk, bit of Macy Gray. Great music to work to.
CHIC
4/5
Imagine thinking this was a greatest hits, because I did. It's just another great album. Who knew?
Miles Davis
4/5
I can't be Uber pretentious about Miles. A genius? Perhaps. Do I enjoy listening to this? No. Do I appreciate this? Yes. Will I be sticking to Sketches of Spain for my Miles fix? Also yes.
The Lemonheads
3/5
So Mrs Robinson isn't actually a proper part of this album but a later added bonus track? Well all the grungy kids at school loved the Lemonheads, I never hated them then, and I don't now. Don't love them enough to listen to it 3 times though.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
It was all going so well until 'Don't', suddenly turning a pleasing rock album into a screech.. anyway apart from that it's pleasant and almost melodic.
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Yeh had that late 80's sound hip hop. Good listen, surprised this hasn't been on my radar before, but that's the whole point of this isn't it?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I don't quite know how to describe this, which is frustrating as I've listened to it through 5 odd times and really enjoyed it. I've downloaded it and will listen to it more, but if you're hoping for an in-depth descriptive review, I'm sorry, but give it a listen anyway...
Billie Holiday
5/5
So this is towards the end of her career, and I've seen some mention her voice was shot by then. But this album captures an amazing delicacy and sheer emotion. Really quite special.
PJ Harvey
4/5
Well this a huge album in terms of crucial l critical success back when I guess I wasn't paying attention. But I am now. From the initial title track you're drawn to something very unique and visceral. And stay with it throughout. Glad I found you properly Polly!
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Da dada da da dada da da dada dah dah da
The Electric Prunes
3/5
It's a sound :)
Love this whole 60's sound, and this is a band I'd never give across before. I'll probably stick to the Yardbirds mind you, but nice to make their acquaintance! Love a bit of wah wah though...
New Order
4/5
It's lovely, of an era, but so single tone
Sister Sledge
4/5
Yeh it's disco banger after disco banger
If you didn't know what you were getting before you popped this on, why are you even listening to music?
Portishead
5/5
Well I came to triphop late, but did I fall for Bristol scene hate, and nothing hit me in the feels more than this album. Roads still hits me in the chops within seconds. Absolute classic.
The Louvin Brothers
3/5
Jesus fucking Christ.
I do get the importance in musical history. I really do get the American playbook. But life (unlike America) has moved on.
But how many of you will listen to this twice? Really?! Liars.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
Late evening vibes, borderline spiritual. Am absolute keeper
CHIC
4/5
We know what we're getting from this. Yeh, Good Times!
Prince
4/5
So, Prince's breakthrough? It is fabulous and Little Red Corvette is one of the greatest singles of all time, just not quite consistent across the album to be perfect.
Steely Dan
4/5
Steely Dan at their best just felt so tight. And this is Steely Dan at their best. You can squeeze a fab paper between their musicianship. I'll still be popping on their greatest hits though.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Ok for me this starts out how I want it to, but the long, long jams at the back end of the album fail to capitalise on the potential. Still great though.
Goldfrapp
4/5
So I knew Goldfrapp but I didn't quite realise Alison Goldfrapp's voice could be so lovely.
From the first 10 seconds of Clown my head (ears?) was turned.
Got a new fan, which is all I can ask for.
Ian Dury
5/5
How do you play Billericay Dickie to someone who's not a Brit of a certain age and try and get them to understand it? I don't think you can. How long will it take them to understand the genius of Ian Dury?
No idea, but good luck on your journey, it'll be fun. And odd. And confusing
Marvin Gaye
4/5
So this was a slow burner for critical reception. And do you know what it is? Great background music. It doesn't stand out, but at the same time, tis lovely.
The Modern Lovers
5/5
So how do you categorise this? No idea. Lou Reed - esque? I guess that's probably doing it an injustice. I was going to give it a 4, but I reckon this will grow on me like a slow creeping STD. Just as memorable but without the rash.
Lou Reed
5/5
What's this, are you allowed to include Greatest Hits albums?
Elliott Smith
4/5
Heart and soul and yet I'm so unfamiliar with him. I feel like he's one album away from greatness, I hope I find it in his other albums I'm off to explore as apparently he's dead. Always the way.
Tim Buckley
2/5
Ok Tim, how did you slip Knight-Errant past the censors?
Anyway, this is of an era, and I wish it had of stayed there.
Röyksopp
3/5
I had this back in the day. 3 CDs for £21 at HMV. You felt like you had to own it to be cool. But really you weren't.
And now it just feels tired.
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
Memorable name.
Forgettable album.
Spiritualized
5/5
One of those rare albums that just works morning, noon or night, weekend, Monday, drunk, sober. Just suits all 500 versions of me.
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
I'm not Kacey's target audience, but I liked this. Chintzy, bubble gum country and western. Forerunner to so much that's massive today.
k.d. lang
4/5
So I'd hit the last song on the album (Constant Craving) without recognizing a track, but so the time thinking "wow this is great" and wondering why K.D Lang just didn't quite have so many hits. But she doesn't need to. Nothing samey, nothing standout, all solid.
Mekons
4/5
This had me reaching for so much other music as so many 80's & 70's elements (XTC, Police, even They might be giants, early Pulp). So thanks for the discovery, that's why I'm here!
Dion
4/5
Little bit struggling to categorize Dion. The album cover and those glasses are a bit disconcerting for starters. A bit like the soulful parts of Bob Dylan and Tim Hardin. Real Phil Spector polishing and yet you always think something great is coming, but it never does. Still, an enjoyable album to accompany a read up of Dion's quite incredible life, and the Buddy Holly story is quite something.
Gotan Project
4/5
Put 'electronic','tango' and 'French' together and this is what you get. Quite enjoyable.
Now pass the Gaulloise.
Pavement
2/5
I was away in 1994, travelling in obscure parts of the world that wasn't playing the latest indie bands. I didn't miss much apparently
Miles Davis
5/5
Is this too intellectual an album for me? Well, many jazzicos would have you think that. But tell you what, pop it on in secret, no preconceptions, just sit back and chill.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Well, this is much better than any overplayed Arcade Fire song I've heard on the radio. Genuinely a really good Album with unique sound and ambition. Only got a 4* because it won't get much airplay from me in future, but enjoyed the couple of run throughs so far.
The Who
3/5
I can see for miles and miles ... But I can't see why this was rated one of the great The Who albums. Maybe the focus on making a point back in the day doesn't come across so much anymore now it's not relevant so I can only judge it on the music.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
This was a thing at a time, but that time is not now, sorry.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5/5
So this is like an all-star country and western band? Blending old stars and younger upstarts, and to a European ear, this is great! So much history and storytelling, I can see why this is such a historic album. Definitely a must listen.
Beck
2/5
Ah Beck. I always thought you were too cool for school, but it turns out I just didn't like your music.
David Bowie
5/5
This is rather good isn't it? Actually stuff that, this borders on brilliance.
Skunk Anansie
4/5
This is angry Skin, really angry. And if you are looking for post orgasmic chill this is perhaps not the album for that moment. But if you want to picked up and shaken around, yeh, this is due you.
Brian Eno
3/5
Just when I thought I didn't know anything about Brian Eno along comes the title track, and can confirm, yes it's from Arena...
So apparently it's seminal, it's certainly technical. It's pleasant that's for sure, but I'm struggling to be able to analyse much more of this.
Sonic Youth
3/5
This sounds like many things, but it's dark, goth and less depressing than expected. Nothing stood out for me, just a sound.
The Waterboys
4/5
This starts so strong, the title track is, to coin a phrase 'a banger', real 80/90's polished, get up and jig, Irish folk-pop at its best. But unless you're a huge fan of the genre, it's a loooooong album.
Bee Gees
4/5
Well put on market Marley Purt Drive and you'll never guess who this is. Well, put on most of this album and I won't have a clue. And actually I prefer this side of the Bee Gees. No disco, no high pitch wailing. An actual album made by actual musicians. Rock on.
XTC
5/5
So, a confession. Another XTC album (The Big Express) is, for personal reasons, my most listened to album. And yet I'd never listened to their most successful album. Here I am, so thank you. So, many of us know 'Dear God' (make sure you listen to an album version that includes it), but this is just a luscious, expansive album that sounds like nothing else, yet sounds so... Swindon? I loved it, but will jump into the reviews now to find out what my non-English cousins make of it.
The Replacements
3/5
Bit shout. But that's punk right? Favourite track? The outtake of 20th Century Boy. But that kind of says everything. Love the energy, still looking for a melody.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Ah prolific Willie Nelson. Of all the albums to include why this one? Well, it's so very very tender. Stripped back, familiar and lovely.
Christina Aguilera
5/5
Yeh straight 5 for me. Yes, I know Beautiful and Dirrty (or whatever), great pop songs, but the whole album was full of great music. Popped it on before a run, no it didn't inspire me to great speeds, but I didn't want to stick my running playlist on. Gonna go listen to Beautiful again now.
Mike Oldfield
4/5
Well this has been a while coming. Like many I've avoided this on the basis of my dad playing this over and over again. Of course I hadn't seen the Exorcist as a kid, but hey, it's worth remembering this was already the start of the Virgin empire. So, historically, so much too it. But musically? I'll leave it to all you prog rockers and musical historians.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Bit of an album isn't it? Remember it's release, getting drawn into the softer numbers but not being a big fan of the harder American rock numbers. Turns out that's still the case.
Dire Straits
5/5
If you're of a certain age this album was huge. It was everywhere. It basically powered MTV and epitomised stadium rock, and wow it blew is away. And oh boy it's still amazing to this very day all the way through. And no, it's not homophobic, it's showing up homophobes, just in very early 80's language so yeh, the language is more dated than the music. Crazy to even think that Brothers In Arms is a huge US military record too. Just feels pretty unique, instantly recognisable and pretty special. What an album.
Living Colour
1/5
"Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi, I'm the cult of personality"
Vacuous guitar solo, riff, repeat etc.
For what is obviously quite a big commercial success I can't say I've every heard of them. Fire which I'm very grateful.
Blandness personified.
Ute Lemper
2/5
"If sex were an Olympic gold we'd have won gold". I DON'T GET THIS ALBUM! Is it cheese or parody? West End musical or an East German Divine Comedy? My apologies I just don't know where this sits. Is that the point?
Burning Spear
4/5
Ah wowsers, know a fair amount of Burning Spears music but probably havn't listened to an album all the way through before. This is great, need the sun out, windows open and this blasting out to the world and all is good. Whilst that's happening, you can have a read up on Marcus Garvey too because yes this is heavily politicised and yet spiritual and yes, important.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Well I'm not really qualified to judge Koffi Olomidé"s music but here we are. Enjoyable but seemingly didn't stand out. Pleasant enough to enjoy on a hot summers afternoon. Wish I hadn't read his wiki profile.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Solid 4/5
Would listen again. If I remember it's existence.
Elvis Costello
4/5
I know a kid called Elvis, after Costello, but of course he'll spend his life telling everyone that. Poor kid. But Elvis Costello is one cool person to be named after. This album features the songs that made him a stand out to me - Alison and Watching The Detectives. And to be sure I'd rather pop on a Greatest Hits rather than an album, this is still fab.
Bobby Womack
3/5
So I had to listen to this on random on Amazon Music (no paid subscription) as most songs missing on Spotify. So I might have missed something. But as Bobby's 13th album, why was this particular album picked? No idea. He's just so great, yet this doesn't stand out. What have I missed? Don't know, I'll have to work through the rest of his huge discography I guess.
Roxy Music
3/5
If I put this on endless replay will this grow on me?! Can I then join the cool cats club? Maybe. Do I have the energy? No. Do I feel I'm missing something? Very much.
Bon Jovi
3/5
Oh it makes lots of other people happy, it's a vibe, it's a snapshot of a certain time in history, I ain't being a snob.
Donovan
3/5
Kind of like lots of Mellow Yellow just less mellow
The Who
4/5
Is it wrong I really like their version of Please, please, please?! And why I never quite got on The Who bandwagon, what's not to like about this?!
Radiohead
3/5
I remember this, the apparent applause/derision of launching a pay what you want download. Very Radiohead. Didn't take off, but I suppose we mostly pay peanuts for downloads these days
As for the music, it's Radiohead, without the hits. Wonder if they pay any of these tunes these days?
Johnny Cash
4/5
So his 67th and final album, and no surprise he reprised old tracks and covered othersb including 2 of his most played tracks. Instantly recognisable, instant classic, one star lost for being single paced
The Byrds
1/5
So the Byrd's do country. Wish they hadn't.
Cowboy Junkies
4/5
I know the band name, not the music. And glad I discovered it, thanks! Not life-changing, but lovely, haunting music. But does any track stand out? Nope.
Beach House
4/5
Well this is rather lovely. Very nu-age Scandanavian sound (to me). Perfect on a hot sunny day, and fortunately for me, it's just that!
2/5
It's interesting, intriguing, but I'm sorry Prog Rock, I just don't want to join you on that very, very long journey
Butthole Surfers
2/5
I persevered, I'm very grateful it's only 32 mins as for most of it I thought "let's just pop in that Stan Getz album that's I need to listen to" but am I glad I persevered? Yes as I don't need to listen to again.
It's not terrible, part of it is well constructed and clever, and you can't knock the band name.
Next.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Ok so there is only one standout track. But it's a great one. And this bluesy, rocky Rod is the side of him I like. It just doesn't feel like one of the top 1001 albums ever...
Pulp
4/5
Reading the reviews this album seems solidly split between 5* this was my era my album this was me Brits and utterly befuddled Americans.
Well this was era and I fly back to mid 90's from the opening service. Yeh my mates went to St Martin's. Yeh I was sorted out for e's and whizz (standout track) but there's still something about Jarvis that makes me... well, mildly revulsed. More about certain people of the era really. Yeh it's a classic, but it's not my classic.
The Clash
5/5
I've just kind of got Train in Vain on repeat as I know how good the other tracks are.
The album cover says it all.
The Kinks
5/5
Well, I already think Death of a Clown is one of the greatest tracks ever (show in for my funeral).
But this album is a little bit of history, I mean it gave the world Waterloo Sunset. Sit back and enjoy...
Lupe Fiasco
4/5
There's a lot to like here, production wise, lyrically, musically and of course a great band name.
Reckon this will get a few summer plays, it's a keeper.
Dolly Parton
2/5
I think this is doing Dolly a disservice to state this is uniquely her album, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt must take equal blame for this godawful album. However respect to them for capturing a unique moment in time when they could flog 20 billion sales to a particular genre of sad white wannabee cowboys, and I hope they all enjoyed spending every penny (cent) they made.
Dire Straits
4/5
Aww, love this as it suits my age, but 2 Dire Straights albums in Top 1001 of all time?!
Nah. Still great though.
Amy Winehouse
5/5
Writing this as I'm going past the Hawley Arms on the bus. Criminal there were only 2 studio albums. Nothing but awe and frustration that this was it. Such a loss, not much else to add.
Bert Jansch
4/5
Well Beer, you were a staple of my folkie mother, and we're an enjoyable listen, but I won't go into depth about this, well mainly as I didn't feel a huge amount. Passable, mildly pleasurable.
Don McLean
3/5
I imagine the biggest surprise to non Americans is that they know 2 Don McLean songs (Vincent). I do recognise the splendour of American Pie - and wonder that if Don knew the impact it would have he wouldn't have put it first in the album. As just everything else will get compared, and let's be honest, the rest of the album compares poorly, but to be fair, what wouldn't? Is it a great album? Nah. One of the greatest songs? Of course.
Astor Piazzolla
4/5
I wonder why this out of Astor Piazzolla's 2 million albums was picked? That's not too dispute his or the album's greatness, I wonder if there was an element that Astor needed to be picked, but being so prolific he had to be picked, after all he'd be in a list of 'Top 501 artists', but picking an album to include? Probably a lucky pick.
Anyway, enjoy, download, then tell me in 5 years if the album stands out? He does for sure, but the album?
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Look, this is utterly lovely and listenable, but like all B&S a bit meh.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
Musically sounds like Bob Dylan but you don't need a strong painkiller to put up with his singing.
His story sounds like many from the 60's and is probably more interesting than the album.
The Prodigy
5/5
I'm only here for the comments of 20 year old somethings in 2023 who popped this on on their 7am commute and got Smack My Bitch blasting in their ears for the first time.
I already know the album inside out as I was exposed to it when I still had the energy. Yeh, will age a bit but still, bloody hell.
4/5
There is some lovely psychedelic licks. Needs further listening, sadly I'm so far behind with my 1001 albums it's not getting the due diligence it needs
The Temptations
4/5
From the first seconds of the opening track you know this isn't going to be My Girl-esque Temptations. This is funkier, grittier (and less successful?) Temptations. You can feel the era, the pre-funk era edginess, and then you have the full 11m45 second brilliance of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Which they didn't write, or want to record (ironically as their Papas were not Rolling Stones).
Lonely glimpse of musical brilliance & history.
Christine and the Queens
4/5
Wowsers, looked at the album cover assumed it was some early 80's disco, turns out it's newish and I know loads of the songs from the radio. Some top stuff on here.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
I still remember the first time I heard California Dreaming - literally stopped me on my feet and becry 'what the f*@£ is that' - I don't think there are many more evocative, sharp tracks, pop or otherwise ever created.
Everything else was going to be a bit downhill after that wasn't it?